water supply line size

[dablack]

Ok guys.  I've got co-op water (and a meter) down at the road.  I'm going to have to bring it up the hill.  This is one of the things I'm going to have to research.  What kind of line should I be looking for?  How big is it?  I assume I'm going to have to rent some equipment to dig that trench.  How deep do I want this line?

thanks
Austin

[MountainDon]

Depth = local frost depth
Size = depends how long a run. Here in the city with a run of maybe 30 - 40 ft from the city line to the house we have a 1 inch. Meters come in different size connections too (5/8 for ours). Here the bigger the meter the higher the basic charge. Once in the house it's 3/4 to the manifolds and from there most lines are 1/2 inch. We also have a pressure reducer which you may want or it may even be mandatory (in some areas).

[dablack]

Thanks MD.

I had the septic guy bid it for me because I assumed that he would do it cheap since he was out that way. 

The distance is 650', he said materials were $270 and labor was $820.  WOW.  I was not expecting that much.  I'm thinking I can rent the machine for $200 and them maybe the materials would be $300, so for me to do it would be around $500 and for him is almost $1100.   I would be able to save about $600 to do it myself. 

I have one more guy to come out and bid the septic.  I will see what he says. 

thanks
Austin

[RIjake]

Just remember to have sand on site.  When you get your trench dug line the bottom of the trench with sand to keep any rocks from piercing the pipe when you backfill.  Another option, which I did with my water line and wiring for the pump, is to run them through conduit.  Again, same reason for it.
You don't want to ever have to dig that line up again.

[considerations]

"Another option, which I did with my water line and wiring for the pump, is to run them through conduit.  Again, same reason for it. You don't want to ever have to dig that line up again."

A phone line can go in there as well in some areas.

[dug]

I would be able to save about $600 to do it myself.

Depends on the soil. I rented a machine (cost me $350 for a walk behind trencher, one day) and spent a solid 14 hours busting through about 150 ft. of "soil" here in NM.